The bizarre meeting between Joanna Lumley and "musician, entrepreneur and
philanthropist” Will.i.am left the veteran British actress star-struck

She is one of Britain’s most loved actresses, who during her 45 year long career has starred alongside giants of the big screen such as Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. She has even shared an on screen kiss with Leonardo DiCaprio.

But when Joanna Lumley, 67, spent several days with the 39-year-old American musician Will.i.am, known for his role as a judge on BBC One’s The Voice, she was appeared to be reduced to more of a star-struck schoolgirl.

“He’s a hero to me. He’s beautiful, stylish,” she said before meeting the rapper. “Should I call him Will.i.am, or Will, or just Willy? Mr Adams or Sir? Gosh, I don’t know.”

She even went as far as describing Will.i.am as “a renaissance man of our times”, despite the “musician, entrepreneur and philanthropist” leaving her waiting at his home for him to arrive.

The unlikely encounter was arranged for a television programme called Joanna Lumley Meets Will.i.am, which was broadcast on BBC One Friday night.

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Will.i.am, whose real name is William Adams, gave Lumley "unprecedented" access to his private life, showing her round his LA mansion and allowing her to be present as he recorded a song, which Lumley described as a “privilege”.

Yet her host appeared to be unfazed by meeting the woman who played the iconic role of Purdey in The New Avengers, who recently kissed Leonardo DiCaprio in the Wolf of Wall Street and played Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous – a character arguably more flamboyant than Mr Adams himself.

When the pair are first introduced, Will.i.am continues speaking on his mobile phone and within moments leaves Lumley so he can "freshen up".

Lumley, however, remained enthusiastic.

“It’s extraordinary, his mind is always working on so many different levels,” she said. “It’s not often you get to hang out with someone you’re really intrigued by.”